[Antennas] Finding True North (simplest method)

Fri, 22 Feb 2002 10:22:29 -0800

Has this subject any merit?
If your beam is up to 45 degrees off does it really matter?  At what offset 
would it make no-never-mind?
How pin-pointed is the beam on most Yagi-Uda s rhobic etc type antennas?

I gave a report of 55 to one operator.  He didnot like the report so he 
said he was swinging the beam around to point directly at me.  Then told me 
it was a lebenty-leben element with a gyro stabalizer etc.  How was his 
signal?  Naturally I gave him a 59+.  He felt better, went back to call in 
another direction.  As far as I could see there was no change in signal 
strength on my S meter.  My ears detected a slight drop as he turned the 
beam around, then up a bit to the same.

So how accurately do you need to be?  If more accuracey is obtained than 
required how much more effort and $ are spent for nought.  I think it is 
call diminishing returns.

Chris opr VE7HCB

At 03:16 AM 2002-02-22 -0500, [email protected] wrote:
>In a message dated 2/21/02 7:53:38 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>[email protected] writes:
>
><<
>  But ... Polaris will have a much larger error in only 10,000 more years
>  <grin>
>   >>
>Why not just set a compass for magnetic North.
>Then sight in on the North star.
>While sighting on it turn the compass dial to zero.
>I use the Military type compass.
>The flat Silva type are OK but they are difficult to aim with.
>Just my 2 cents.
>Bob
>WA2HOQrp <tm>
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